Edison Files Suit Against Warrenville To Clear Prairie Path Site For Power Lines

March 05, 1996|By Scott Gregory. Special to the Tribune.

Commonwealth Edison has sued in DuPage County Circuit Court to stop Warrenville from blocking a tree-cutting program aimed at making way for power lines along the Illinois Prairie Path.

In a lawsuit filed against the city Friday, Edison is asking for a judge to put an end to Warrenville's "interference" with the $15 million program to string 138,000-volt power lines on 100-foot-tall towers along the nature trail.

Citing a lack of jurisdiction, the Illinois Appellate Court threw out a similar Edison suit last month.

Warrenville officials and a grass-roots group, Friends of the Prairie Path, are among those who have fought the plans since 1991. Opponents say the lines would decrease property values and ruin the path's beauty. But Edison officials said the area is the least disruptive place for the lines.

Warrenville authorities, citing city ordinances, say Edison must have work permits from the city to cut trees in the area.

"Whoever does work in our town, we have to ensure that certain guidelines and policies are followed," Ald. Robert Siebert said.

Siebert said be believes that if Edison would agree to follow special-use guidelines that would minimize disruptions for homeowners, he and the rest of the City Council would allow the work to proceed.

Edison officials have said that because the project was approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission in October, the company does not need city permits.

On Jan. 24, about 35 residents turned out at Winfield and Butterfield Roads to protest what was scheduled to be the beginning of Edison's tree cutting through the city. Workers never showed.

The next day, Warrenville police stopped workers from cutting trees in an area city officials said was within city limits. The company halted the job and has vowed not to start work in Warrenville again until the courts decide the matter.

Opponents also have a lawsuit pending in Appellate Court asking a judge to overrule the ICC and stop the project.